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How do I get my "Downloads button" to change into a "Timer" whilst a download is occuring?

ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser
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From the web page "Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox", with the url: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/where-find-and-manage-downloaded-files-firefox#firefox:win8:fx43 under the "Table of Contents", the 1st item is: "How do I access my downloads?". Within this section the following is stated: "During a download, the Downloads button changes into a timer that shows your download's progress. The timer changes back into an arrow when your download is complete." Since my Downloads button remains static, I am unable to determine a download's progress. How does one encourage the Downloads button to, in fact, change into a timer?

From the web page "Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox", with the url: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/where-find-and-manage-downloaded-files-firefox#firefox:win8:fx43 under the "Table of Contents", the 1st item is: "How do I access my downloads?". Within this section the following is stated: "During a download, the Downloads button changes into a timer that shows your download's progress. The timer changes back into an arrow when your download is complete." Since my Downloads button remains static, I am unable to determine a download's progress. How does one encourage the Downloads button to, in fact, change into a timer?

Chosen solution

Thanks to those of you who offered help to solve my dilemma. Since my "Downloads" icon finally just disappeared, I ended up selecting the "Open Menu" icon at the far right hand of the address bar & then selected the "Customize" menu item at the bottom left of the drop down info box. I moved the "Downloads" icon from the icons available in the "Customize" drop down box of available icons to the area at the right of the address bar betwixt the "Home" icon & the "Send" icon. I then proceeded to down load a file & the the "Downloads" icon changed into the "% complete bar" icon. So, I'm good to go for now...altho, I am still somewhat flummoxed by the odd behavior originally exhibited by the "Downloads" arrow icon remaining static during a download instead of changing into the "% complete bar" icon, as it now does...

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All Replies (10)

Wesley Branton
Wesley Branton
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This should happen automatically, but if it doesn't, please try the following:

  1. Type about:config into the Firefox address bar
  2. Locate the browser.download.animateNotifications string
  3. Change the value to true
  4. Locate the browser.download.panel.shown string
  5. Change the value to true
  6. Restart Firefox

This should change the download button to a timer when a download is in progress. If it does not, please let us know.

Modified by Wesley Branton

alexey.orlov
alexey.orlov
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this happens (for me at least) in cases where server do not provide information about total size of the file you try to download to firefox. what you should try to do to check if that's the case is pressing downloads button and looking for total size of download - if that is missing, then server is to "blame"

cor-el
cor-el
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What information do you see if you click the download button to open the drop-down list? Does that show progression data?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser Question owner
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Wesley Branton said

This should happen automatically, but if it doesn't, please try the following:
  1. Type about:config into the Firefox address bar
  2. Locate the browser.download.animateNotifications string
  3. Change the value to true
  4. Locate the browser.download.panel.show string
  5. Change the value to true
  6. Restart Firefox
This should change the download button to a timer when a download is in progress. If it does not, please let us know.
ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser Question owner
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Thank you for your quick response. Since this my 1st foray into moxilla support, I'm unsure how to reply to a reply. SO, this info is directed to Wesley Branton: Both line 2., & line 4., already have a value of "true", however the last word in line 4., is "shown", not "show". Can the difference in spelling cause my problem?

Modified by ffbrowseruser

ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser Question owner
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Thank you for your quick response. Since this my 1st foray into moxilla support, I'm unsure how to reply to a reply. SO, this info is directed to alexey.orlov: when I press the downloads button, everything on screen remains static/unchanged. The only way (so far) that I can tell if a file was downloaded, is to open my downloads directory to see if the file was downloaded. So far, every file I've downloaded using the downloads button has been successfully transferred to my laptop. However, there is no notification during the process nor is there notification when the process is finished.

ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser Question owner
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AND this reply is to cor-el: when I left click on the downloads button, the screen remains static/unchanged. There is no drop down menu nor is there any progression data. The file just downloads in the background. There is no notification during the process nor is there notification when the process ends. I have yet to learn how to start Firefox in "SafeMode", when I learn how to do that, & have actually done that, what would I look for to see if one of the extensions (Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem? I'll continue this reply when I execute the actions you have outlined...

cor-el
cor-el
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You can use one of these to start Firefox in Safe Mode:

  • Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
  • Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox
  • Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
Wesley Branton
Wesley Branton
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ffbrowseruser said

Thank you for your quick response. Since this my 1st foray into moxilla support, I'm unsure how to reply to a reply. SO, this info is directed to Wesley Branton: Both line 2., & line 4., already have a value of "true", however the last word in line 4., is "shown", not "show". Can the difference in spelling cause my problem?

No. That is a typo on my part. Sorry about that.

ffbrowseruser
ffbrowseruser Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Thanks to those of you who offered help to solve my dilemma. Since my "Downloads" icon finally just disappeared, I ended up selecting the "Open Menu" icon at the far right hand of the address bar & then selected the "Customize" menu item at the bottom left of the drop down info box. I moved the "Downloads" icon from the icons available in the "Customize" drop down box of available icons to the area at the right of the address bar betwixt the "Home" icon & the "Send" icon. I then proceeded to down load a file & the the "Downloads" icon changed into the "% complete bar" icon. So, I'm good to go for now...altho, I am still somewhat flummoxed by the odd behavior originally exhibited by the "Downloads" arrow icon remaining static during a download instead of changing into the "% complete bar" icon, as it now does...